Brooke Reviews

YA Book Blog

Top 10 Tuesday: Authors I’d Love to Meet

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Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

1. J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter series, Cormoran Strike novels – She’s a genius. I’m not even sure what I’d say to her if we ever came face-to-face.

2. Maggie Stiefvater – The Raven Boys – She’ll be at BEA! EEK!

3. Marissa Meyer – The Lunar Chronicles – Will also be at BEA! I’ll have to tell her how absolutely obsessed I am with Fairest.

4. Veronica Roth – Divergent trilogy – If only we could sit down and have a really long discussion about her books. That would be awesome.

5. Cassandra Clare – Mortal Instruments series, Infernal Devices series – If she’s as funny as her characters (and I imagine she’s funnier, as she’s the mastermind behind them all), I think we’ll get along just fine.

6. Sarah J. Maas – Throne of Glass series, ACOTAR (currently reading!) – Her books give me all the feels. And she’ll be at BEA, too…

7. Richelle Mead – Vampire Academy series, Bloodlines series – Ah, she’s written two of my favorite book-boyfriends!

8. Sarah Dessen – This Lullaby, Just Listen, Along for the Ride – I think Sarah Dessen would be an excellent mentor. What do you guys think??

9. Leigh Bardugo – Shadow and Bone trilogy – She’s created such a unique story world, and I’d love to pick her brain. (Does that sound weird?)

10. Kiersten White – Mind Games, An Illusion of Fate – I love, love, love her writing style, and I just think she’s got a great personality. Kiersten White, can we be friends??

 

What authors would you want to meet face-to-face? Also, let me know if you’ll be at BEA – I’ll be so excited to meet my blogger friends!

Brooke Reviews: Wild Hearts by Jessica Burkhart

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Brooke Reviews: Wild Hearts by Jessica BurkhartWild Hearts by Jessica Burkhart
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA on May 5th 2015
Genres: Equestrian, Love & Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 368
Format: eARC
Goodreads
two-half-stars
Brie Carter's father's land development business has taken her family all over the world, but as soon as they arrive at their new home in Lost Spring, Wyoming, the town turns out to protest. They don't want a new hotel if the resident mustang population will be displaced or hurt as part of the deal. Then Brie meets Logan, a gorgeous local who has a special connection to the mustangs, and she is immediately drawn to him . . . and the horses. However, with Logan's father leading the protests and Brie's father refusing to budge, it's clear that their parents are heading towards an all-out war. Can Brie and Logan find a way to save the mustangs and be together? Or is their love doomed from the start? This new title in the If Only line is the perfect summer read and proves that love flourishes in the wildest places!

This e-galley was provided by Netgalley and Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked the premise of this book – it had a sort of Romeo and Juliet vibe (feuding fathers!) as well as the horses thing, which sounded promising. But the book didn’t meet expectations, and that’s always disappointing.

Brie and Logan fall for each other pretty quickly. I definitely would have preferred a “slow burn” rather than insta-love. And their relationship is so perfect. I originally thought this was because author Jessica Burkhart was leading up to some dramatic fallout between the two, or some sort of climactic moment involving their fathers’ disagreement, but no such luck. As a result, it didn’t capture my attention like I hoped it would.

Also, I felt like the horses weren’t a huge part of the plot until the second half of the book. And by then, much of the conflict had been resolved.

I did appreciate Burkhart’s exploration of Brie’s character, especially Brie’s evolving perspective on moving so often for her father’s job. Brie also searches for her own “thing,” and it was interesting to see her rally behind a project.

In the vain of the other “If Only” books, Wild Hearts is light and fun – unfortunately, it fell a bit flat for me.

Top 10 Tuesday: Books I’ll Probably Never Read

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Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

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1. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson – I feel sort of guilty about this one. I got maybe halfway through, put it down, and never picked it back up. I can’t even remember why I abandoned it. Now I just don’t feel like starting over, so it will forever shame me from my bookshelf.

2. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi – Another book I started reading but never finished. I heard so many good things, and I think I enjoyed it during the brief period I was reading, but I can’t go back.

3. Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell – I was so excited about this book, but I’ve read a few reviews which put a bad taste in my mouth. Also, I’m just not sure I could handle a teenage serial killer.

4. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver – I fell hard for book 1 (Delirium) of this series, but I just can’t bring myself to read book 2. It bugs me when authors separate their protagonists from the love interests, simply to throw up another obstacle. Grr.

5. The Jewel by Amy Ewing – Interesting premise, but I’ve read too many negative reviews to give it a shot. Maybe someday, but I’m already drowning in my current TBR pile.

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6. The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling – This is the first book Rowling published following the Harry Potter series, and I can imagine she was under a lot of pressure. I just don’t want the book to tarnish my perspective of her. I’ve read her Robert Galbraith books (and absolutely LOVED them!) but I will not read this one.

7. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt – I tried, guys. I really tried.

8. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn – So many recommendations! Maybe I’ll come back to it a few years from now.

9. A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin – These books require such a time commitment. And there are so many characters to keep up with. I just wanted to find out what happened to Arya, and it seemed like there were a million pages between me and Arya’s next chapter.

10. The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon – Honestly, I wasn’t a huge fan of The Bone Season, but I was curious to see if the sequel might be any better. It sat at the top of my TBR for weeks and then I decided to return it to the library because it was overdue…

 

Have you read these books?? Should I give them a second chance? Share your thoughts!

 

Brooke is… currently taking exams.

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Hi friends!

Just wanted to let you know I’m taking a brief hiatus during exam week. I wish I’d scheduled posts ahead of time, but unfortunately, I did not. I’m disappointed because I wanted to participate in Top 10 Tuesday this week (it’s a great prompt, #amiright?) but maybe I’ll revisit it next week or later this month.

Anyhow, I’m currently counting down until Thursday @ 2pm, when I am free at last!

Looking forward to later posts this month – I attended the annual Tallahassee Writer’s Conference this past weekend and I’ve got so much to share with you. 🙂

Good luck to you if you are also taking finals! I’ll see you on the other side.

~ Brooke H

Brooke Reviews: Fairest by Marissa Meyer

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Brooke Reviews: Fairest by Marissa MeyerFairest by Marissa Meyer
Published by Macmillan on January 27th 2015
Genres: Fairy Tales & Folklore, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 272
Goodreads
four-half-stars
Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Who is the Fairest of them all? Pure evil has a name, hides behind a mask of deceit, and uses her "glamour" to gain power. But who is Queen Levana? Long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress in The Lunar Chronicles, Levana lived a very different story - a story that has never been told . . . until now. New York Times - bestselling author Marissa Meyer reveals the story behind her fascinating villain in Fairest, an unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death. This extraordinary book includes a special full-color image of Levana's castle and an excerpt from Winter, the exciting conclusion to The Lunar Chronicles.

I was simultaneously disappointed and excited when Marissa Meyer announced the publication of Fairest. Disappointed, because it meant I’d have longer to wait for Winter. And excited, because I knew the book would add depth to her story world and to her villain, Queen Levana.

I will praise Marissa Meyer until the end of my days. Fairest exceeded all expectations. It is the tragic story of a girl who longs to be loved.

The book begins with the murder of Levana’s parents. The only family young Levana has left is Channery, her older sister and heir to the Lunar throne. But Channery is selfish and vain and cares nothing about politics. And she is cruel to Levana. She continually reminds Levana of her ugliness and her worthlessness.

Surrounded by the mentality that beauty is everything, Levana’s glamour becomes her shield. And eventually, her source of power. I was eager to discover the reason for Levana’s fear of being truly seen. Readers of the Lunar Chronicles know that Levana despises mirrors and wears a veil whenever she communicates via netscreen. It’s obvious that Levana is insecure about her appearance and wishes to maintain the facade of being exquisitely beautiful, but Fairest reveals that there’s much more to it than that.

The timeline of the book covers much of Levana’s life – beginning with her teenage years and ending just before the events of the first three books (Cinder, Scarlet, Cress). The passage of time is smooth, organic. I was carried along by the flow and rhythm of the story.

It’s an engaging read. I appreciated how much backstory (for all the characters!) Meyer was able to weave in without slowing the pace.

As for Levana’s character, she is sympathetic but not altogether likable. My heart ached for her, even when I knew she was making poor decisions. It is an incredible feat for an author to make an antagonist sympathetic AFTER readers have encountered her in previous books. And I think I speak for all fans of the Lunar Chronicles when I say we have very strong feelings of hatred for Levana. But not anymore. So huge props to Marissa Meyer!

Levana’s transformation and downward spiral is painful. The book is emotional and sorrowful. But it’s so compelling, and I know it will make my reading experience of Winter infinitely more impactful.

Have you read this book? Share your thoughts!

Top 10 Tuesday: All-Time Favorite Authors

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Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I gave this TTT a lot of serious thought. It wasn’t difficult for me to pick only 10, as crazy as that sounds, but rather it was more difficult to think about my working definition of “favorite.” Because, believe it or not, several of the novels written by the authors on the list probably wouldn’t make my all-time favorite books list. But their authors are on this list because their writing has moved me, or inspired me, or captivated me. It is absolutely the best feeling to become so wrapped up in a book you forget all else. These authors have accomplished that for me, so I thank them for it. 🙂

In no particular order…

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1. J.K. ROWLING – Harry Potter series, Cormoran Strike novels

2. AGATHA CHRISTIE – Hercule Poirot murder mysteries

3. MAGGIE STIEFVATER – Raven Boys series

4. SUZANNE COLLINS – Underland Chronicles, Hunger Games trilogy

5. MARISSA MEYER – Lunar Chronicles

6. RICHELLE MEAD – Vampire Academy series, Bloodlines series

7. CASSANDRA CLARE – Mortal Instruments series, Infernal Devices trilogy

8. SARAH DESSEN – contemporary romance

9. MAUD HART LOVELACE – Betsy-Tacy series

10. RICK RIORDAN – Percy Jackson series, Kane Chronicles, Heroes of Olympus series

What do you think? Are any of these authors your all-time favorites? Would you read absolutely anything they write? 

 

Recommended read: Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass

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Short recap:
I’ve begun a new blog series about my writing journey… I’ve started writing a new novel (completely from scratch) and I want to share every single step with you.

Check out my previous posts:
Blog Series: Writing a New Novel
I thought I had an IDEA. I didn’t.
What comes first, characters or plot?

So I’ve promised to share not only my experiences but also the resources I’m using, and so I thought I’d take a day to write about a book that’s really made an impact on me as a writer.

I can’t remember exactly when, but someone recommended Donald Maass’ Writing the Breakout Novel and swore that it was an excellent resource for writers. I read it for the first time about a year ago (and wrote a review, which actually sums up my thoughts quite nicely!). And then recently, someone in my writers group referenced the book and I knew I needed to reread it. I immediately ordered a copy from Amazon and waited anxiously for it to arrive.

I’m already over halfway through.

It IS an excellent resource for writers – for aspiring writers, novice writers, experienced writers. The book is about writing a ‘breakout’ novel. What is a breakout novel?

A breakout novel is “deeper, stronger, and more memorable.” A breakout novel is “highly detailed and generally complex.” Maass points out that genre is not necessarily a factor, and that “what matters is that your characters, your story and your fictional world live for you intensely.”

But how do you tell whether you’ve achieved breakout status?

Maass writes, “There is no agreement in the book business about what exactly constitutes a ‘breakout,’ let alone what is a breakout novel. It is, and should be, many things. Breakouts can happen on many sales levels. The first novel that soars to a top five spot on The New York Times best-seller list is the dream breakout scenario. For me, however, any sharp upward movement in sales and in attention paid to a novelist by publishers, bookstores, the press and the public is a breakout. Some may be mini breakouts, but all growth is good.”

I don’t believe that simply by reading this book I’ll write a breakout novel in one draft. I’m not sure I can write a breakout novel even with a second, third, or fourth draft. That’s actually not the point.

The point is to recognize what makes a story great and to have those elements in the back of my mind as I’m writing. I want to be aware of what sets a story apart and to always strive for it. Because I think, for many of us, the “breakout novel” is less about sales or recognition and more about our desire for improvement. Why do we write? It’s not because we hope to be published (although we do!) but because we love writing.

(Was that too deep? Whew.)

Seriously though, BUY THE BOOK. And read it. And then read it again. 😉

I’ll continue to reference this book in my following posts! There’s so much to learn!

Brooke Reviews: Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White

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Brooke Reviews: Illusions of Fate by Kiersten WhiteIllusions of Fate by Kiersten White
Published by Harper Collins on September 9th 2014
Genres: Legends, Myths, Fables, Young Adult
Goodreads
three-half-stars
Jessamin has been an outcast since she moved from her island home of Melei to the dreary country of Albion. Everything changes when she meets the gorgeous, enigmatic Finn, who introduces her to the secret world of Albion's nobility. It’s a world that has everything Jessamin doesn't—power, money, status . . . and magic. But Finn has secrets of his own, and the vicious Lord Downpike will do anything to possess them. Unless Jessamin, armed only with her wits, can stop him.

Disclaimer: I’m going to apologize ahead of time for being a bad book blogger – I did not write this review immediately upon finishing the book. I’m sorry…I promise it won’t happen again!

So where to start with Kiersten White’s newest standalone? Her books are so addictive. Her writing style is just gorgeous, and she creates these rich story worlds that I can vividly imagine even days after I’ve finished the novel.

Our protagonist, Jessamin, is independent and hard-working and feisty. She has skeletons in her closet (blackmail, anyone?), but as a reader you’re willing to forgive her for them. In fact, her skeletons make her infinitely more interesting. 😉

Jessamin is struggling to make it in a world which is determined to make sure she doesn’t succeed. She faces a good deal of prejudice from the nobility of Albion, who are rich and excluding and snobby. All but Finn, that is. He’s aloof and mysterious, but he treats Jessamin like an equal, and he enjoys spending time with her (for reasons she can’t quite understand).

This book has a very dark tone I wasn’t exactly expecting. But I really can’t imagine it any other way. I think it adds to the mystery and intrigue of the plot. Bonus points to White for a super creepy villain, the hilarious sidekick Eleanor, and an unpredictable climax/conclusion. The plot twist was fantastic but the ending was a bit sudden.

This book left an impression. It was an incredibly enjoyable read for me.

 

Have you read this book? Share your thoughts! If you’re a fan of Kiersten White, we should be friends.

Brooke Reviews: The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall

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Brooke Reviews: The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie HallThe Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall
Published by Penguin on January 13th 2015
Genres: Love & Romance, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Young Adult
Goodreads
three-stars
Avery West's newfound family can shut down Prada when they want to shop in peace, and can just as easily order a bombing when they want to start a war. Part of a powerful and dangerous secret society called the Circle, they believe Avery is the key to an ancient prophecy. Some want to use her as a pawn. Some want her dead.

To unravel the mystery putting her life in danger, Avery must follow a trail of clues from the monuments of Paris to the back alleys of Istanbul with two boys who work for the Circle—beautiful, volatile Stellan and mysterious, magnetic Jack. But as the clues expose a stunning conspiracy that might plunge the world into World War 3, she discovers that both boys are hiding secrets of their own. Now she will have to choose not only between freedom and family--but between the boy who might help her save the world, and the one she's falling in love with.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I am a huge fan of mystery, conspiracy, and romance (probably in that order), and this book promised all three. I think it definitely delivered, and yet I just couldn’t get super excited about it.

I liked the characters, but I felt as though I didn’t have enough time to get to know Avery in order to really root for her before she took off to Paris with a stranger. I know it’s fiction, and I know how much Avery wanted to meet her family, but I couldn’t help thinking, girl, he just pulled a knife on you! It was moments like these that made me question Avery’s judgement.

I will say that I really appreciated the travel aspect of this book. Paris and Istanbul sound incredible and I loved the historical details the author weaves into the story along the way. The Circle’s ties to Alexander the Great were particularly interesting.

And whatever Avery was lacking, Jack totally made up for it. I have a huge crush on Jack (maybe it’s his adorable British accent). The romance was adorable, and while there was insta-attraction, there was no insta-love. (Thank you thank you, Maggie Hall!)

The plot moved pretty quickly. I’ll most likely read Book 2. I liked this book, I just didn’t love it.

Top 10 Tuesday: Peeking in on Characters’ Lives

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Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

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1. Harry & gang – How are the kids doing at Hogwarts? Any shenanigans? I just hope Harry and Ginny and Ron and Hermione are happy.

2. Katniss & Peeta – The ending of Mockingjay was too…bittersweet. I felt like Katniss and Peeta just dropped off the grid, and there were so many things I still wanted to know. Has the rebellion ended? Have their wounds healed?

3. Katsa & Po & Bitterblue – Katsa and Po are off doing good things for people, and Bitterblue is queen. How’s life?

4. Alina & Mal – I’d just love to peek in on these two. What’s new at the orphanage?

5. Simon & Isabelle – One of my favorite YA ships of all time…I’d give anything to know more about Simon and Isabelle’s lives post-CoHF.

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6. Ginny – Is she still traveling?

7. Skeeter – Is she a famous writer? Is she still advocating for change, tackling controversial and impactful issues?

8. Hazel Grace – I changed my mind. I actually don’t want to know.

9. Gigi & gang – Where did the girls go to college? What did they decide to do with their lives? Did they find love?

10. Cammie – Is she a super awesome spy, doing super awesome things for the world behind-the-scenes? Oops, that’s probably classified.

 

Have you read these novels? What would you expect from these characters? Who’s lives would you like to peek into?